Sandwell Council were aware of the situation.  If they weren't they would have said so already.  The fact they were and then allowed the situation to reach the point where the daughter died indicates they did not protect her from herself by ensuring that she received the medical support she needed.  If they had visited the house they must have also been aware of the ages of the parents and their potential age-related infirmity even if they could not predict that the father would suffer from various cancers.

  yes the story does suggest they were aware of the case however we mustn't forget that the 'daughter' was 40 years of age therefore she could have refused treatement.  I'm not saying she definately did but I think we do need to consider it as a possibility.

I suspect the truth is that the couple wanted to keep their daughter but needed some support which they did not get.  The daughter was reluctant to see support professionals but they had seen her in the past, of that I have no doubt.  Perhaps it suited the support staff to have her kept with her parents as it saved Social Services placing her into the full time care which she must have needed.  Her father has indicated he asked for help but no help came.  If that was untrue I am sure Sandwell Council would have said as much, but they did not.

Sandwell Council will be unable to comment on an ingoing investigation - imo quite rightly so as any comments made at this stage could easily jeopardise that investigation.


The police certainly had a duty to ensure that no crime had taken place.  That said they have failed to apply common sense and also have allowed the matter to continue to the point where it is having a detrimental effect on the parents.  They have all the evidence they need and are going to get.  It appears that everyone is sure what she died of - probably dehydration and infections arising from pressure sores.  There is no murder weapon to be found.  There is no motive because if the parents had wanted her out of their lives they could have done it years ago. Much as the police would wish to have a 'serious crime' to solve to enhance their stats this is not going to be it and in reality their cavalier treatment of the parents will probably accelerate their demise.  Will there be another inquiry with lessons learned when they die, still under threat of prosecution for causing their daughter's death by neglect?

The story would lead you to believe your point above but it is important to remember that it is a one sided argument - keeping people on bail costs money therefore I'm sure the police wouldn't do it unless they had to - but at the same time they have to make sure they clear up any minute detail before releasing the couple.


The only way we can be confident that justice is done is when it is seen to be done.  If that means bringing publicity where the professionals would not wish it to be then so be it.  It seems likely that all involved would be quite content to allow this to carry on drifting indefinitely.  If it takes a story in the press to concentrate their minds so that they can learn any valuable lessons and allow the parents to live the rest of the lives without the cloud of suspicion, then the press must be allowed to bring this to the attention of the public.

Then perhaps Linda Horton can explain what they would have liked to have done and what they would do differently next time.

With regards to bringing the story to the attention of the public I'm not entirely sure whether I'd agree with that however I do believe that if they are reporting such a story they should produce a more balanced article rather than one from the viewpoint of one person.

I thought that the summary from Geordie Lass was pretty reasonable and the majority of the posters thought so to.

There are plenty of people in secure care who would be out if the choice was theirs, but it isn't.

Jeopardise the investigation?  Can we focus on how long such an investigation can take?  If the council had no prior involvement it won't take them long surely.  As the Old Bill have a job to do shall we summarise the investigation for them:
The daughter is dead, we know what from.  Your only question is did the parents deliberately cause her death by withholding hydration and not seeking help for her skin condition.  And the answer is the only people who know are the parents and if they did not crack under your initial 9 hour interrogation they are a lot tougher than they look.  Unless the Social are valuable witnesses because of all their involvement then the only people who saw the daughter are the parents.  It won't take the police too long to collate the witness statements.  Unless there is an admission of guilt or overwhelming proof the CPS will not prosecute as there is no chance of a conviction and it would not be in the public interest. 

Minute detail?  Have you phoned them up to report a mugging or an assault or even a burglary?  Minute detail is not what they do.  Sticking stuff at the bottom of the pile to avoid making a decision is what they do.  They have other targets to fry.

So, given who we think would know what actually happened, who is going to give us this balanced article then, this alternative viewpoint? 

Perhaps the Police or the Social Services could be asked to say something?

I think the press have done a valuable job in bringing this out in the open because I believe in an open society.  But I am a realist and understand that not everyone else does.

Nothing to say other than I applaud GL's balanced post

Jeopardise the investigation?  Can we focus on how long such an investigation can take?  If the council had no prior involvement it won't take them long surely.  As the Old Bill have a job to do shall we summarise the investigation for them:
The daughter is dead, we know what from.  Your only question is did the parents deliberately cause her death by withholding hydration and not seeking help for her skin condition.  And the answer is the only people who know are the parents and if they did not crack under your initial 9 hour interrogation they are a lot tougher than they look.  Unless the Social are valuable witnesses because of all their involvement then the only people who saw the daughter are the parents.  It won't take the police too long to collate the witness statements.  Unless there is an admission of guilt or overwhelming proof the CPS will not prosecute as there is no chance of a conviction and it would not be in the public interest. 

There's no right oe wrong answr about how long such an enquiry should take - maybe it has taken too long and maybe been put to the bottom of the pile - I don't know the answer to that however we have to trust that the police have reasons for keeping the couple on bail.
Minute detail?  Have you phoned them up to report a mugging or an assault or even a burglary?  Minute detail is not what they do.  Sticking stuff at the bottom of the pile to avoid making a decision is what they do.  They have other targets to fry.

So, given who we think would know what actually happened, who is going to give us this balanced article then, this alternative viewpoint? 

I don't think it's right to compare a potential murder inquiry to that of a much lesser crime to be honest.  Maybe a balanced article cannot be written at this time - maybe we need to wait until the investigation is resolved and then all viewpoints can be put forward.
Perhaps the Police or the Social Services could be asked to say something?

I think the press have done a valuable job in bringing this out in the open because I believe in an open society.  But I am a realist and understand that not everyone else does.
They have only bought one side of the story out in the open though and for all we know it could be an article brimming with lies.

The other side (police and social services) can't/won't comment, but this may get some resolution for the couple, at last.